Louisiana
Author: Anthony Vlahovic
Last Updated: 20 November, 2024
Whether it’s professional or collegiate sports, Louisiana has no shortage of teams. Since sports betting was passed in the state in January 2022, residents can wager on these teams across eight well-known mobile betting apps.
Legal and licensed apps:
SOCIAL SPORTSBOOK | 18+. No real money betting is offered, and the app is intended only for entertainment purposes. T&Cs apply.
DFS | 21+. The 20%/$500 first deposit bonus is for new customers only. Promo code SAVE must be used. Minimum 1st deposit required: $5. Play-through requirement: 25X. Further T&Cs apply.
SOCIAL SPORTSBOOK & CASINO | 21+. Play-for-fun platform - for entertainment only. T&Cs apply.
SOCIAL SPORTSBOOK & SWEEPSTAKES CASINO | 18+. New customers can claim 170,000 Gold Coins + 7 Sweeps Coins by completing tasks after signing up (no deposit required). Check instructions from the Sportzino site. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. New customer offer: 100% first deposit bonus up to $250. Min 1st deposit required: $25. Play-through requirement: 2X within 7 days. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 21+. Promo code CZR150 must be used on the very first deposit to claim the 100% matched bonus up to $150. Wagering requirement: 1X. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. If your first real-money bet loses, you'll get a 100% refund as a racing credit up to $500. Individuals who have already placed bets on other FanDuel products are not eligible. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. New US customers get a 50% bonus for the first deposit. Max claimable bonus: $250. No promo code is needed. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Wager $300 within the first 30 days of signing up to earn $100 in bonus credits. If you bet $5,000 in total within the first year of signing up, you'll get another $50 bonus. On-track bets are not included. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 21+. Make a first deposit and place cash wagers equaling the deposited amount within 30 days of registration to get the 100% matched 1st deposit bonus funds. Max bonus: $150. Wagering requirement: 1X. Only one bonus per household. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Welcome offer: 100% matched first deposit bonus up to $200 (for new customers only). Awarded bonus credits will be added to your bonus wallet. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Deposit exactly $200 the first time with the promo code STAKES to claim the 100% bonus. Wagering requirement: 1X (deposit+bonus). T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Place your first cash bet on Single-Horse Win. If this bet loses, you'll get a 100% refund up to $100. Promo code 100TVG must be used on registration. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Use promo code HWR200 when signing up, and place $200 in qualifying wagers within the first 14 days to receive $200 bonus credits. Exotic wagers are preferred as qualifying bets in this promo. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Beta version launched. Welcome offer: 50% bonus for the first deposit up to $300. One bonus per customer, only for the very first deposit. T&Cs apply.
HORSE RACE WAGERING | 18+. Get a $20 bonus for every $100 wagered within the first 60 days after registration. Use of promo code GET200 on signup is required. Max claimable bonus amount: $200. T&Cs apply.
All legal ways to bet on in Louisiana
| Is online sports betting legal in Louisiana? | Yes, affiliate license required |
| Is in-person sports betting legal? | Yes |
| Is daily fantasy sports legal? | Yes |
| Is betting on college sports legal? | Yes |
| Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes (online & in-person) |
| Is greyhound betting legal? | No |
| Is political betting legal? | No |
| Is eSports betting legal? | No |
Louisiana has an excellent mix of professional and college teams throughout the state, and bettors have no restrictions on wagering on those teams. Residents are fully allowed to place bets on in-state colleges, and they also have access to some of the top daily fantasy sports apps on the market.
Horse racing was legal in the state long before the sports betting bill was introduced, so betting on it is legal in LA. The two biggest things that residents cannot wager on are politics and eSports.
Online sports betting in The Pelican State
The state of Louisiana is divided into parishes, and in November 2020, when the sports betting bill was introduced for them to vote on, 55 of the 64 parishes voted for legalization. Technically, the state only needed one parish to say yes for the bill to be passed, but in this case, the more, the merrier.
After the vote, Governor John Bel Edwards would officially sign three sports betting-related bills in June 2021, opening the door for retail betting to launch in October. The only places sports betting would not be authorized in the state would be in the nine parishes that voted against the bills.
The online sports betting market in Louisiana has not even begun to reach its full potential. Under the state's sports betting bill, 40 online sportsbooks are legally allowed to enter the market. Right now, there are just eight, but that list includes the biggest names in the market, including DraftKings, Caesars, BetRivers, FanDuel, and more.
Each online operator is partnered with one of the 20 retail locations available in the state, as each retail location is legally allowed to partner with two online skins. In addition to the retail locations, the Louisiana Lottery is also legally allowed to partner with an online operator, which would expand sports betting even more.
Growth in the online market is expected to continue. Still, it will likely be a slower process, as the state only welcomed two new operators to the market in 2023, after the six other operators have been a part of the betting scene since the launch in January 2022. Between the sheer number of retail locations and sports franchises in the state, Louisiana should be a favorable market location for operators to expand their reach.
All legal LA sports betting apps in 2024 (from newest to oldest):
Sportsbook app | Launch date |
|---|---|
Fanatics Sportsbook | August 15, 2024 |
Bet365 | November 21, 2023 |
ESPN Bet | November 14, 2023 |
BetMGM | January 28, 2022 |
BetRivers | January 28, 2022 |
Caesars | January 28, 2022 |
DraftKings | January 28, 2022 |
FanDuel | January 28, 2022 |
Recently Closed Online Sportsbooks
Sportsbook | Details |
|---|---|
Clutchbet | The Australian-based company announced that it would stop taking wagers in the U.S. on September 16, 2024. |
Sports betting & gambling legislation in LA
While sports betting is legal in Louisiana, residents still need to follow the rules and regulations. For example, a resident must be at least 21 to place a legal wager in the state. Additionally, customers have the option for remote registration in LA, but they must be within the state line to play a wager on those mobile apps. In Louisiana, it is also important to remember that bettors must be within the 55 parishes that approve sports betting, as nine parishes in the state still oppose the bill.
All retail and online sportsbooks must follow the guidelines set by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, as they reward licenses and ensure each operator abides by the regulations laid out in the sports betting bill.
Since the purpose or goal of sports betting for most people is to win, it is also essential to highlight the tax rate. On all winnings above $600, the state will withhold 4.25%, which is the highest individual state income tax rate. This is in addition to the federal tax rate of 24%.
Online casinos and online poker remain illegal in the state, but there does not seem to be a strong push to legalize them at the moment. However, with how well sports betting has done, there is always a chance a bill regarding online casinos will make its way onto the ballot at some point. With those two markets still unavailable, the only other gambling-related market that is offered down in the Bayou is the lottery.
| Are online casinos legal in Louisiana? | No |
| Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
| Are social sportsbooks legal? | Yes |
| Are sweepstakes/social casinos legal? | Yes |
| Is online poker legal? | No |
| Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
| The launch date of sports betting in Louisiana? | October 6, 2021 |
| How many legal sports betting apps are there in LA? | 8 |
| How many legal retail betting sites are there in LA? | 20 |
| Is remote registration allowed? | Yes |
| Legal age for sports betting in Louisiana? | 21+ |
| Louisiana's tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 4.25% |
| Who regulates sports betting in Louisiana? | Louisiana Gaming Control Board |
Most recent updates from the LA sports betting scene
November 18, 2024: With their loss to Florida, the LSU Tigers no longer have odds to make the College Football Playoff.
November 11, 2024: Due to their loss to Alabama, the LSU Tigers are now (+700) to make the College Football Playoff.
November 4, 2024: The New Orleans Saints have fired head coach Dennis Allen following another loss. The Saints are currently (+3.5) point home underdogs for their next game against the Falcons.
October 28, 2024: In the midst of a three-game losing streak, the New Orleans Saints are set to head on the road to Carolina to play the Panthers as (-7) point favorites.
October 23, 2024: Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, the New Orleans Saints will head to LA this weekend to play the Chargers as (+7) point underdogs.
October 21, 2024: Coming off a big road win over Arkansas, the LSU Tigers will stay on the road this weekend for a meeting with Texas A&M. The Tigers are currently (+2.5) point underdogs.
October 18, 2024: With their loss to the Broncos on Thursday Night Football, the New Orleans Saints are now (+650) to make the NFL playoffs.
October 14, 2024: The LSU Tigers were able to pull off an overtime win over Ole Miss in week seven. The Tigers will be on the road at Arkansas this weekend as (-3) point favorites.
October 9, 2024: Saints quarterback Derek Carr will miss a few games with an oblique injury. Spencer Rattler has a chance to start this week against the Bucs in a game where the Saints are (+3.5) point home underdogs.
In-person sports betting sites and locations
Louisiana’s retail betting scene differs slightly from most states with legalized sports betting. There are 20 retail locations in the state, and they are broken into 15 riverboat casinos, one land-based casino, and four racetracks.
All of these locations are within the 55 parishes that agreed to the state’s sports betting bill, and thanks to that bill, each has the option to partner with two online operators.
Amelia Belle (500 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia)
Bally's Shreveport (451 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport)
Boomtown Bossier City (300 Riverside Drive, Bossier City)
Boomtown New Orleans (4132 Peters Road, Harvey)
Coushatta Casino (777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder)
Delta Downs (2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton)
Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino (2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas)
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans)
Golden Nugget Lake Charles (2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles)
Harrah’s New Orleans (228 Poydras Street, New Orleans)
Horseshoe Bossier City (711 Horseshoe Boulevard, Bossier City)
Horseshoe Casino Lake Charles (100 Westlake Ave, Westlake)
L’Auberge Casino Lake Charles (777 Ave L’Auberge, Lake Charles)
L’Auberge Casino Baton Rouge (777 L’Auberge Ave, Baton Rouge)
Louisiana Downs (8000 East Texas Street, Bossier City)
Margaritaville Resort Casino (777 Margaritaville Way, Bossier City)
Paragon Casino Resort (711 Paragon Place, Marksville)
The Queen Baton Rouge (1717 River Rd, Baton Rouge)
Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport (315 Clyde Fant Pkwy, Shreveport)
Treasure Chest Casino (5050 Williams Boulevard, Kenner)
Sports betting in neighboring states
Louisiana has three border states, two of which have legalized sports betting, and the other being Texas. Both Arkansas and Mississippi have been able to pass a sports betting bill, while Texas remains one of the biggest states not to offer any sort of legal sports betting.
To find out more about why Texas remains on the “no” list for sports betting legislation or which sportsbooks are available in Mississippi, you can select them in the box down below.
| State | Online sports betting | Retail sports betting | DFS | Horse Race betting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | Legal (restricted) | Legal | Legal | Legal (in‑person) |
| Texas | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Legal (in‑person) |
| Arkansas | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Sports betting revenue impact on Louisiana's economy
Louisiana’s first full year with legal sports betting was 2022, and by the end of the year, they had amassed over $2 billion in sports betting handle alone. This was a pretty strong indicator that LA would become one of the highest-earning states every month, which also rang true in 2023.
The state's size and the market's size certainly impact a state's performance, and Louisiana is well off in both departments. Between the pre-existing casinos and prominent sports betting apps, it is not much of a shock that LA entered 2024 with a record-breaking month of over $50 million in revenue in December 2023.
When sports betting became legal in LA, 15 retail locations became eligible to receive licenses. These licenses allow these locations to offer retail and online wagering as long as they pay the $750,000 fee that comes with the license. The sports betting tax rates vary depending on whether the book is online or retail. Online books have to pay a 15% tax rate, while retail books have a rate of 10%.
Louisiana sports betting record months:
Sports betting handle: December 2023 ($377,046,556)
Revenue: December 2023 ($56,511,836)
Tax income: September 2024 ($7,642,906)
Latest LA sports betting revenue report breakdown (September 2024)
Reported by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB).
Total betting handle: $351,679,502
Mobile betting handle: $320m
Retail betting handle: $31.7m
Hold: 15.69%
Gross revenue: $55,191,433
Tax revenue for the state: $7,642,906 (All-time high)
What sports created the most betting revenue in LA in Sep 2024?
Football ($5.1m revenue)
Baseball ($2.2m)
Basketball ($517,276)
Soccer ($488,429)
All other sports ($9.5m)
Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)
Report | Total handle | Gross revenue | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
September 2024 | $351,679,502 | $55,191,433 | $7,642,906 |
September 2023 | $280,093,549 | $43,143,474 | $5,318,554 |
YoY change | Up 25.56% | Up 27.93% | Up 43.70% |
LA sports betting revenue in 2024
The monthly sports betting revenue data, including the betting handle and the state's tax income, are reported by The Louisiana Gaming Control Board, and the previous month's numbers are usually published in the middle of each following month.
The table below shows all reported sports betting figures from the year 2024. In addition, it features the percentage shows how such figures have evolved on a month-to-month basis.
Month | Handle (MoM) | Revenue (MoM) | Tax income |
|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 2024 | $351,679,502 (49.96%) | $55,191,433 (103.86%) | $7,642,906 |
Aug. 2024 | $234,512,847 (27.08%) | $27,073,504 (8.15%) | $3,698,568 |
Jul. 2024 | $184,543,357 (-12.98%) | $25,033,903 (-8.04%) | $3,511,412 |
Jun. 2024 | $212,056,544 (-17.38%) | $27,221,159 (-21.58%) | $3,850,037 |
May 2024 | $256,659,997 (-9.33%) | $34,711,724 (-14.01%) | $5,767,757 |
Apr. 2024 | $283,059,884 (-19.13%) | $40,367,859 (7.07%) | $5,387,113 |
Mar. 2024 | $350,006,557 (27.38%) | $37,700,995 (21.02%) | $4,910,457 |
Feb. 2024 | $274,775,955 (-20.66%) | $31,152,229 (-40.88%) | $3,765,778 |
Jan. 2024 | $346,320,907 (-8.15%) | $52,696,465 (-6.77%) | $5,681,508 |
2024 Total YTD | $2,493,615,550 | $331,149,271 | $44,215,536 |
Yearly revenue data
Year | Handle (YoY) | Revenue (YoY) | Tax income |
|---|---|---|---|
2024 YTD | $2,493,615,550 | $331,149,271 | $44,215,536 |
2023 | $2,903,601,394 (25.96%) | $366,730,465 (71.64%) | $43,510,163 (28.40%) |
2022 | $2,305,235,510 (3333.75%) | $213,667,183 (2022.53%) | $33,887,355 (3266.30%) |
2021 | $67,134,595 | $10,066,636 | $1,006,664 |
TOTALS | $7,769,587,049 | $921,613,555 | $122,619,718 |
Louisiana - Some commonly asked questions (FAQ):
What is the legal status of sports betting in Louisiana?
Sports betting, in both retail and online formats, has been legal in Louisiana since November 2021. Outside of those options, residents of the state also have access to daily fantasy apps and horse betting racebooks.
How much tax revenue has LA generated from legal sports betting?
With an online tax rate of 15% and a retail tax rate of 10% assessed to sportsbook operators, Louisiana has generated over $88 million in tax revenue since legalizing sports betting.
Who are the most well-known sports figures in Louisiana?
Louisiana has had some incredible athletes pass through the state, including Joe Burrow, Alex Bregman, Pete Maravich, Angel Reese, and Ja’Marr Chase.
Has anyone been arrested for illegal sports betting in LA?
Not only has someone been arrested for illegal sports betting in Louisiana, but that someone happens to be Kayshon Boutte, a former LSU star wideout. Boutte was arrested for a number of infractions, including making wagers on his own team.
